Tigerhawk7109 wrote:Lunatic Prime wrote:Tigerhawk7109 wrote:Lunatic Prime wrote:Tigerhawk7109 wrote:Lunatic Prime wrote:IDW / R.I.D. Impactor with Mini-Con partner Armorhide
Dang... I never thought I'd see the day when RiD Overload looked awesome like that! Hats off to you and your amazing skills, sir!
![Beast Hunters Predacon :BH-PREDACON:](./images/smilies/beast-hunters-predacons.png)
Thanks for the kind words, mate!
I'm always glad about every appreciation
![Kremzeek :KREMZEEK:](./images/smilies/kremzeek.gif)
I'm planning on making a Nova Prime out of TR Optimus. Do you have any tips? It'll be my first real customization project.
![Beast Hunters Predacon :BH-PREDACON:](./images/smilies/beast-hunters-predacons.png)
I'm looking forward to see that. Still waiting for an official one and as we get IDW exclusive characters in the Generations line (SIEGE Rung) and Cyberverse cartoon (Tarn) now that's more and more likely to actually happen.
But back to your question...
First of all: WHICH TR OP? There's the Leader class version which is a retool of CW Ultra Magnus and the Voyager one.
But no matter which one it is I suggest that you get very familiar with the figure and know its transformation by heart. If there are any areas where paint could be rubbed or scratched off due to transforming or posing the figure, you should remove material there to prevent that before paiting those parts. But before you remove any material you have to think about how this could affect every single mode of the figure. For example I removed some plastic on the inside of Overload's/Impactor's belly because it scratched off the paint on the belt buckle. Later I found out that I actually needed that edge I removed to connect the torso piece with the launcher in tank mode. Fortunately I found out a little trick to make it still work. But if there are no areas where paint could be scratched off respectively you don't need to mod anything you don't need to think about that.
And maybe you want to dye major areas instead of painting them. Then you have to worry about paintwear even less. But I haven't dyed anything so far except of some clothes by mistake maybe. So I can't help you there.
So then how do you want to paint it? Brush, airbrush, spray can or a combination of those?
And do you want to give him his wings or alter anything else or do you want to do a straight up repaint?
I'm going to stick with a repaint of the
Voyager for now. I plan on using a brush. Got any tips for paints? I just plan on doing the 'bot mode and truck mode.
![Beast Hunters Predacon :BH-PREDACON:](./images/smilies/beast-hunters-predacons.png)
I use GUNDAM MARKERS, Vallejo and GREEN STUFF WORLD paints for those applications but I'm not an expert on paints and brands. I hear a lot that Tamiya is very good in general and I myself like GREEN STUFF WORLD's paints a lot because they have some very special stuff like Candy Inks and Colorshifting Metal paints.
And definitely seal your paintjob. I only used Tamiya's coating spray cans for that so far and I'm pretty happy with those. BUT they aren't cheap (what customizing isn't in general).
And no matter if you brush or spray, always put thin layers on top of each other and not before the former layer has dried. A huge mistake a lot of people make is applying paint too thick. So painting demands some patients and repetition. I still have to practise that for spraying.
And as Nova Prime is primarily white and black I'd suggest to basecoat him in the primary color (I guess it'll be white) you want him and then mask the areas you want to stay white and spray black on top of it. Or do it the other way round if your masking medium is more expensive than your paint
And then just paint the details with a fine brush. And I suggest to not get the cheapest fine brush you find because if you wanna go on customizing after this project you'll definitely need a good fine brush. Mine costed about 10€ ($11 or so).
Which colors do you want to use for him, especially details? For TFs I'd always use some metallic paints.
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